Written Answers Wednesday 22 February 2006

Scottish Executive

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reinstating the ability of local authorities to recover money spent on enforcement of planning regulations which was removed by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Johann Lamont: The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 has not affected planning enforcement. In relation to building regulations, powers exist under the act which enable local authorities to recover expenses incurred on enforcement.

Culture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12394 by Patricia Ferguson on 9 December 2004, what stage the evaluation of the Youth Music Initiative has reached.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Arts Council has recently commissioned an independent evaluation of the Youth Music Initiative from 2003 to 2006. The evaluation is being carried out by the Centre for Public Policy, Northumbria University. This is expected to be completed by the end of December 2006.

Culture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been reached to roll out the Youth Music Initiative to all school students throughout their school years.

Patricia Ferguson: The Youth Music Initiative (YMI) "P6 target" stated that, by 2006, all schoolchildren should have had access to a year’s free music tuition by the time they reached P6. In addition, during the initial target period, funds have been made available to develop projects for age-groups other than those within the immediate P6 target group.

  YMI funding has been divided into three strands: "formula", "strategic development", and "informal sector". The last two strands have been used to benefit projects aimed specifically at the early years (0 to five years) and teenagers (14 to 18 years). In 2005-06, £1.9 million of YMI funding has been applied in this way. Details of the funding strands and a full list of these projects are available from the Scottish Arts Council.

  The Scottish Executive is continuing to provide £10 million per annum to help ensure that the "P6 target’’ is sustained by local authorities and that YMI funding is made available to develop youth music provision for the wider age-group.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete its review of the current national planning guidance for the siting of onshore wind farms.

Johann Lamont: The intention is to consult on revised draft policies in the spring and to have finalised guidance in place by the end of the year.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is conducting its review of the current national planning guidance for the siting of onshore wind farms.

Johann Lamont: The Executive is considering, with the Environmental Advisory Forum for Renewable Energy, the appropriateness of a number of options for inclusion in consultative draft revised guidance. Each option is being assessed through the strategic environmental assessment process. Progress on this work can be followed on the Executive’s website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Planning-Building/Planning/15243/9609 .

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it is consulting on its review of the current national planning guidance for the siting of onshore wind farms.

Johann Lamont: An Environmental Advisory Forum For Renewable Energy has been established to assist with the review. The forum includes representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Link, VisitScotland, Historic Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Association of Scottish Community Councils, Highland and Island Enterprise, Scottish Renewables Forum, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and the Royal Town Planning Institute.

  Full public consultation will take place on draft revised policies in due course.

Scottish Enterprise

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what stage Scottish Enterprise has reached in its proposal to restructure.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise have been taking soundings from a wide range of industry representatives and partners as they consider a new structure. There have also been discussions with the Enterprise and Culture Committee. Ministers will consider Scottish Enterprise’s proposals in the near future, once they are ready to be put to us.

Scottish Enterprise

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when MSPs will be consulted by Scottish Enterprise on the impact of proposed changes on the areas that MSPs represent.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise met the Enterprise and Culture Committee on 17 January 2006 and presented details of their developing proposals. Further to this the committee met again on 24 January, and then wrote to Scottish Enterprise offering comments.

Scottish Enterprise

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Enterprise will make a public statement regarding its reorganisation and the future role of local enterprise companies, such as Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise have been taking soundings from a wide range of industry representatives and partners as they consider a new structure. There have also been discussions with the Enterprise and Culture Committee. Ministers will consider Scottish Enterprise’s proposals in the near future, once they are ready to be put to us. We will want to be assured that any new structure continues to provide local responsiveness.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Members’ Restaurant

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body further to the answer to question S2O-8978 by Kenny MacAskill on 1 February 2006, why no specific mechanism exists to monitor the income, service levels, costs, level of subsidy and value for money of the Members’ Restaurant as distinct from other catering outlets at the Parliament and whether it will change its practice in this respect.

Kenny MacAskill: The income from the Members’ Restaurant is recorded separately from the other catering outlets. As I indicated in the answer to question S2O-8978, some costs are generic. For example, some roles cover all areas: general manager, executive chef, accountant, kitchen porters and other roles such as food service assistants are often located by demand. It would be extremely difficult accurately to split costs amongst all catering outlets. We have no current plans to make major changes and subsidy is likely to continue to be presented as a total for all catering outlets.

Members’ Restaurant

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will ensure that the Members’ Restaurant does not receive disproportionate subsidies relative to other catering outlets in the Parliament.

Kenny MacAskill: Future subsidy will be determined by usage, service level and tariff policy. It is not possible to ensure that the catering outlets operate at the same subsidy level, as usage is one of the main factors and can vary from week to week. While the SPCB will keep the catering policy under review, we have no current plans to make major changes and the total subsidy level across all catering outlets will continue broadly at the same level.

Members’ Restaurant

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will give access to the currently named Members’ Restaurant to all pass holders every day of the week.

Kenny MacAskill: Access to the Members' Restaurant was re-considered by SPCB in November 2004, and it was agreed that the members and their guests only rule, on business days, would continue. It was also agreed that all pass holders could access the bar at any time. The SPCB has no current plans to change the access arrangements.

Members’ Restaurant

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider making the Members’ Restaurant accessible to the public.

Kenny MacAskill: As the Members' Restaurant is within the private part of the building, it would not be possible, within the current security arrangements, to give the public unescorted access. Members can of course invite guests into the Members’ Restaurant but non-pass holders must be accompanied by a pass holder at all times in the private area.